Create custom actions rules in Outlook for Windows

A rule is an action that Outlook 2013 or Outlook 2016 for Windows automatically performs on sent or received email messages, based on conditions you specify, such as moving all messages from a specific person into a folder other than your Inbox.

There are third party developers who write custom action rules add-ins — dynamic link library (.dll files) that you must install on the computer running Outlook 2013 or Outlook 2016 for Windows in order for you to use them. Microsoft doesn’t provide custom action add-ins.

Note: A rule with a custom action runs only on the computer where it is installed and only when Outlook 2013 or Outlook 2016 for Windows is running.

Click the File tab.

In the right pane, click Manage Rules & Alerts.

In the Rules and Alerts box, on the Email Rules tab, click New Rule.

Under Start from a blank rule, click either Apply rule on messages I receive or Apply rule on messages I send, and then click Next.

Under Step 1: Select condition(s), select the conditions that you want the messages to meet for the rule to apply.

Under Step 2: Edit the rule description, click an underlined value for any condition you added, specify the value, and click Next.